Vacuum breaker



1946. E. w. N. BOOQSEY ,4

VACUUM BREAKER Filed Feb. 19; 1944 INVENTOR. [DA/659D. M A/. a os-zr BYPatented Aug. 13, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM BREAKER EdwardW. N. Boosey, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 19, 1944, Serial No. 523,110

. 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a vacuum breaker for use in the water supplysystem of a building ineluding a container in which water may becontaminated as for instance through the washing of air from atmosphereto the water supply conduit in the event of a less than atmosphericpressure condition occurring in the supply conduit thereby preventingwithdrawal of contaminated water from a container into the supply systemunder influence of the reduced pressure condition in the supply system.

In many instances in homes, hospitals, or other buildings in whichvarious types of articles require to be cleaned, water is suppliedthereto through a conduit opening to the container below the liquidlevel therein and a less than atmospheric pressure condition in thesupply conduit tends to draw impure water from the container into thesupply line and thus contaminate water in the supply system as ishereinafter more fully described.

A structure embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawingin which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing the preferred form of myimproved automatic relief valve. I r

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the regulator mechanism taken on line 22 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the Water supplyconduit is indicated at l to which my improved vacuum relief valve isconnected by the threaded hub 2 of the valve body 3. The regulatormechanism is indicated generally at 4 and includes a cylindrical bodyprovided with a rectangular projecting end portion 5 which may berotated by the nut-like lement 6 having a rectangular recess in itsinner end in which the end 5 of the valve is positioned. The element 6is also provided with a squared I end portion 1 by which it may beturned. Other means for rotation of the member 6 may be utilized.

The valve body 3 is of a chambered form and has a recess on the sideopposite the nut 6 to receive the rounded end 8 of the body of theregulator which has an opening in its inner end as indicated by dottedlines 9 and through which the ball [0 may be introduced into theinterior thereof. The regulator body has an elongated slot II in itslower side, in the position shown 2 in Fig. 1, of less width and greaterlength than the diameter of the ball. The opposite side of the regulatorbody has an aperture l2 of a diameter slightly less than the diameter ofthe ball and additional apertures l3 and M on opposite sides thereof,the purpose of which is hereinafter described;

The said valve body 3 has a threaded terminal conduit portion l5, whichmay be of any desired length and functions as an extension of theconduit 2, on which is threaded a chambered member It having a series ofapertures ll adjacent its larger upper end and above the lower end ofthe threaded terminal portion l5.

The said conduit portion l5 adjacent its upper end is provided with atransverse wall having apertures l8 therein and a central internallythreaded aperture to receive the threaded upper end of a tube l9centrally disposed in the body and terminating at its lower end at oradjacent to the lower end of the body or casing Hi. The said lower endof the body I6 is threaded to receive the threaded end of the dischargeconduit 20 leading to a container, not here shown. The tube [9 has aseries of vertically spaced apertures 2| therein preferably arrangedspirally about the tube as indicated.

Under the described arrangement of parts and with the valve member 4 inthe position shown, a pressure condition less than atmospheric pres surein the conduit l tends to draw air through the ports I! and thencethrough the apertures l8 and thence through the slot I I in theregulator. If the reduced pressure condition in the supply conduit issufliciently great, the ball 10 is moved to close the aperture l2. Undersuch condition however air continues to pass through the apertures I3and M to the supply conduit. The purpose of this arrangement is togradually eliminate the detrimental eifect of a less than atmosphericpressure condition in the supply conduit.

It is further to be observed that air may also pass through theapertures I! in the body member l6 and thence through the apertures 2|to the interior of the tube l9. These apertures 2| are preferablyarranged in longitudinally spaced relation and as the water level in theconed member I6 is lowered, an increasing number of the apertures 21 areopened to flow of air.

This arrangement for air flow, which includes the apertures l1, l8 and2| arranged as hereinbefore described, provides for an increase involume of flow of air to the supply conduit as the water level in thebody [6 decreases. The introduction of air eliminates the detrimentaleffect of a less than atmospheric pressure condition in the supplyconduit.

It is further preferable to provide an air deflecting rib or ribs 22 inthe body member 16 below the air inlet apertures H. The said rib or ribsprovide an air deflection means tending to direct the same to thepassageway 23 to which the apertures I8 are open.

By the arrangement of parts as described the air flow'into" theplunibing system"through'the aperture 2| is increased in volume as thewater level in the chambered member i6 is lowered by reason of its flowby gravity to the container.

It is also to be observed that the tube ['9 having the apertures 2|therein adapts the device for use with a closed container with which theconduit 20 may be connectedand wherein air-under pressure mayaccumulate. The arrangement provides for an escape of air fromthe-container without the necessity'of use of a separate relief 'valveas is'commoniy theipractice. It is also pointed out that the film ofwater on the exterior of the tube l9 during discharge of water to eitheran open or closed container'tends toprevent'discharge of water from-theinterior of the' tube;-

through the apertures 2| and'also'tends to prevent splashing which wouldordinarily "occur "without the described arrangement which provides afilm of waterfrom' the'apertures 23 around the exterior-of the inlet endof the tube l9.

Having thus fully described "my invention, its utility and mode'ofoperation, what I claim'and "desire to secure-by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A vacuum breaker I positionable between spaced parts ofawa'ter supplyconduit having a terminal portion discharging'toa containerbelow theliquid'level therein,- cbihprisinga chambered body member havingapertures adjacent its upper and providing for flow of air thereinto'and supported in spacedrelationon'the conduit,

said supply conduit terminating *in said body "member below theapertures" thereim an "open f ended tube supportedwithin saidterminal-portion of the conduit in"peripherally spaced rela a tiontherewith and providing for; flow of air through the apertures andthence to between the terminal portionof the conduit andthe tube, to"the" supply conduit under in'fluen'ce- *of reduced atmospheric pressurecondition in the supply conduit, the supply conduit extending into thebody member to a point below the said apertures, an openendedtubesupported in peripherally spaced relation with the" last named portionof the conduit and extending into said body member to a point adjacentthe lower end thereof, the said tube having a series of apertures inits-wall in longitudinally spaced relation, thearrangement providing fornow of air-into the body-member and thence through the space between theconduit and the tube into the supply conduitunder influence of alessthan atmospheric pressure con dition therein the said apertures inthetube providing for increased flow of air to the supply conduit as thewater level decreases in the body member.

--3; A vacuum breaker positionable between vertically spaced parts ofawater supply conduit having a terminal portion discharging toacontainer below the normal liquid level therein, comprising a chamberedbody member supported between the spaced partsof; theeonduitand-havingapertu-res therein adjacent its upper end,- the conduit terminatingwithin the body member below -theupper 'end thereoi,- an open endedtubesupported within saidterminal portion of I the conduit inperipherallyspaced relation therewith and providing for flow ofairfrom atmosphere to--of air tothe supply conduit.

*the supply conduit-under infiuence'of a pressure condition thereinbelow atmospheric pressure, the

said tube having a series ofapertures therein in longitudinally spacedrelation providing for flow EDWARD w. N. BOOSEY.

